SMOKEY POINT The staff of Cascade Rehabilitation Associates in Smokey Point want to help lighten the load on local students shoulders.
As physical therapist Elaine Andersen explained, the clinic is offering free backpack fittings for children, to make sure their backpacks are not overloaded or improperly fitted.
The American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics both suggest that the maximum safe weight of a backpack should not exceed 15 percent of a childs body weight, since heavier backpacks can make a childs growing musculoskeletal system vulnerable to injury. Injuries can also occur when a child attempts to lift a heavy backpack while practicing harmful postures, such as arching the back, leaning forward or using only one strap when leaning to one side.
These postural adaptations may cause spinal compression and improper alignment, generating improper stresses to the disks between the vertebrae that provide shock absorption, Andersen said. A heavy backpack can strain and fatigue muscles and soft tissue in the back. An overweight load may cause stress or compression to the nerves in the shoulders and arms, too.
Andersen recommended that backpacks be worn with both shoulder straps, to balance the weight of the pack and promote symmetrical posture. She likewise suggested that the shoulder straps should fit comfortably on the shoulders and under the arms, so that the arms can move freely, and that the bottom of the pack should rest evenly in the contour of the lower back, rather than sagging down toward the buttocks.
Children can also lighten their backpack loads by reorganizing and removing their backpack contents each night, as well as by dropping items off at desks, lockers or cubbies. To ease the remaining weight, Andersen advised parents to look for backpacks with padded backs, to reduce pressure on the back and prevent the packs contents from digging into the childs back, and waist belts, to help distribute some of the load from the back to the pelvis.
The three signs of a backpack thats too heavy are pain when wearing the backpack, tingling or numbness in the arms and red marks on the shoulders, Andersen said. The message to parents is simple: be aware of the loads that your child is carrying. Above all, encourage your child to tell you if he or she is in pain or has discomfort before a serious problem occurs.
Andersen encouraged parents who have questions or wish to schedule a screening to call Cascade Rehabilitation Associates at 360-658-8100. Cascade Rehabilitation Associates is located at 16404 Smokey Point Blvd. in Arlington.